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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/23/2022 Environmental Board Minutes APPROVED MINUTES CITY OF LINO LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Mr. Sullivan called the Lino Lakes Environmental Board meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on February 23, 2022. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Sullivan approved the agenda as presented. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mr. Sullivan asked for approval of the January 26, 2022 minutes. Mr. Parsons made a MOTION to approve the minutes. Ms. Cavegn seconded the motion. Motion passed 4-0. V. OPEN MIKE Mr. Sullivan declared Open Mike at 6:32 p.m. There was no one present for Open Mike. Open Mike was closed at 6:32 p.m. VI. ACTION ITEMS A. Amelia Lake Subwatershed Management Plan/Feasibility Study Mr. Nelson presented information on Amelia Lake, which is a natural environment lake in the southeast portion of Lino Lakes. It also has been indentified as a lake of DATE: February 23, 2022 TIME STARTED: 6:30 P.M. TIME ENDED: 7:27 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: John Sullivan, Lindsay Buchmeier, Cassie Cavegn, Jonathan Parsons MEMBERS ABSENT: Shawn Holmes, Ella McNulty, Alex Schwartz STAFF PRESENT: Andy Nelson Environmental Board February 23, 2022 Page 2 APPROVED MINUTES biological significance by the DNR due to a high quality colonial waterbird nesting area. A private ditch on properties lying north of Amelia Lake provides drainage for approximately 340 acres to Amelia Lake. The ditch corridor and adjacent wetlands are proposed components of the City’s parks, greenways, and trail system in the 2040 Comprenhsive Plan. Recently, there has been flooding in the ditch corridor due to limited maintenance and failure of private culverts. In an effort to evaluate long-term stormwater management options for this subwatershed area, staff is proposing to develop an Amelia Lake Subwatershed Management Plan/Feasibility Study in partnership with the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO). The study will develop alternative concepts aimed at enhancing water quality, preserving flood storage, and providing for potential recreational and wildlife corridor features. The partnership with VLAWMO will include a cost match for professional services required to complete the feasibility study, with the City and VLAWMO each contributing 50% of the cost, with the total cost not to exceed $30,000. City staff will also be managing the consultant developing the study. A Request for Services was sent to four qualified engineering firms. City and VLAWMO staff reviewed the four responses and reached consensus that WSB and Associates is the recommended firm for development of the study, based on their experience with City drainage in the area and the overall strength of their proposal. Highlights from the Scope of Work for this study include: 1. Four meetings and one site visit 2. Existing conditions review and summary 3. Survey of topography of the ditch, slopes, erosion, stormwater structures, and grades 4. Monitoring pollutant data for the lake 5. Water quality and drainage modeling 6. Surface water improvement options based on different ownership scenarios 7. Permitting requirements and funding options 8. Final Report Mr. Parsons asked about the history of conservation work on the lake and if Art Hawkins’ work had influenced or impacted the current project. Mr. Sullivan mentioned the results of the work may be accounted for in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Environmental Board February 23, 2022 Page 3 APPROVED MINUTES Mr. Nelson added the lake is classified as a lake of biological significance with the MN DNR and speculated the historical conservation work contributed to this listing. Mr. Parsons asked if there was a water quality standard or goal that any projects that result from this study would be trying to achieve. Mr. Nelson responded impaired lakes do have goals for pollutant load reduction. Because Amelia Lake is not currently impaired, the goals of this study are mainly information gathering to get some plans in place ahead of development to minimize pollutant loading in the future. Mr. Sullivan asked for clarification on current ownership of the properties that the ditch runs through and on the extent of the drainage area contributing to Amelia Lake. Mr. Nelson provided clarification on these topics. Mrs. Buchmeier asked if the main purpose of the study was to prepare information and options ahead of future development. Mr. Nelson responded preparing for future development was a goal, as well as looking for solutions to current maintenance issues. Mrs. Buchmeier asked if we would have to get permission from property owners to access their properties to conduct the survey work. She also asked what the long term maintenance options might look like under different ownership options. Mr. Nelson responded we would have to obtain permission to access properties. Mr. Sullivan commented the study seems like a positive, particularly noting the value of the monitoring and survey work. Mr. Parsons asked if the ditch is the primary drainage source to Amelia Lake. Mr. Nelson said it is. He commented by controlling the surface water, the City will be able to mitigate the impacts to Amelia Lake. Mr. Sullivan made a MOTION to recommend the City Council proceed with the Amelia Lake feasibility study. Ms. Cavegn seconded the motion. Motion passed 4-0. VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Earth Day Event at Wargo The Earth Day Event at Wargo Nature Center was discussed. The Environmental Board decided to get a booth for the event which will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Environmental Board February 23, 2022 Page 4 APPROVED MINUTES VIII. UPDATES A. Tree City and Growth Award for 2021 The City of Lino Lakes received Tree City USA recognition for 2021, marking the City’s 31st year of recognition in the program. The City was also awarded the Tree City USA Growth Award for the third time. B. Recycling Update There were 97 participants in the Recycling Saturday event held on February 19th. Of the 97 participants, 60 contributed to paper shredding. Event participation was low due in part to the cold weather. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Cavegn made a MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 7:27p.m. Motion was seconded by Mr. Parsons. Motion carried 4-0.